Stenographic machine



Jam-29, 1946. w, JOHNSQN ErAL 2,393,781

STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE original Filed Dec. 16. 1939 Patented Jan. 29, 1946 S'IIENOGRAPHIC MACIHNE GlarenceW. Johnsonand John-G. Sterling, Chicago,- and: Milton` H. Wright and Robert T. llhtightf..` Lake Blair, Ill., assignors to Steno-- gralahi; Maehines, Inc., a. corpora-tionot I11i Imis @riginalL application December 16, 1939, Seriali Nol 30%);582. Divided and this application May 1'8, 1942, Serial-No. 443,468.

imams. (c1. 1oz- 41),-

Thisinvent-ionrelates to stenographic-mach-ines off the. type which is usedto record the spoken word-a SuchA machines areusedY in reporting conferences, court procedure, andthelike, and in business oices forrecording,A dictation.

Then invention relates more particularly to a novel clutch used to-impart'uni-directional rotary motion to. a platen in response t-o-depressionsof keylevers, which levers operate type-againstthe platen. Among the principal objects-ofthe invention, it isintended to provide asimple and dependable clutch, andone- Which- Willrelease` the-.platen automatically onthe returnstroke ofthe. key.- levers.- without imparting. any reverse rotationto they platen; and` to provide sueha clutch whichr may be-manipulated to release the platen-'forI free. rotation of: the platen in` any direction.

Furtherand other advantages off the presentinventionwill become apparent from-thefollowingI description readf inconjunction with the drawing,- in which Eig. 1- is a detail` viewoff the universalbar frame, clutch, and ribbon mechanisms;-

Fig. 2"isan-enl'arged detailfview of the clutch; and

Fig. 3A is a sectional: view through the clutch taken online 3`3sof Fig. 2.:

This. application. i'sa division of applicants` copending case-SerialtNo. 3093582, filed-December- 16, 1939.

The-present: invention is-intended for use-in a machine-wherein ngeroperated keys (see Fig. 1) operate type bars (not-shown)-` against aplaten- |22 (Fig. 31) over which a strip of paper ismoved, there being an inking ribbon (not shownl-` between the type.- andthe paper. Motion is imparted tothe inking ribbonbyf-means, for example, of a spool diagrammatically shownat- |131 in Fig. 1 rotated about a Vertical axis-by means ofia driving-pinion 209 mountedon a--horizontal shaft 200, the teeth 2|i| ofn the pinion- 209 engaging a. spoor gear- |9-|;

' Rotary--motion-isimparted to the shaft-200 by means of adrive pawl' 213-1` having-an engaging sur-face- 2'I'6 operating against the rubber disk -20-0; The.A pawl v2`I3 isnormallyv hel'df against' thev disk 2|)61byt a-spring-Z-IS'.-

The-keys 25V are.A attached-tothe.` end of key levers 46;` andeach lever 46; in turn, is provided withabearingportion 300resting against-a pad 6-onafuniversal bar-I I4 ,-1 the-pad.- |v I Sbeing--containedjinachannel member- 5. 1 The universal bar I I 4'j is carried-onthe endsof universal" levers- An-A |1113 fulcrumedbetween theirend-sao Ha arm 242.` is integrallyattached to eachof; the universal levers |-|2, andthe pawl` |-I3ispivotallymounted at 2-I4 tothe-free endiofv the-arm- 2I-211 Theplaten-- |22 is mounted'- onaplaten` shaft-l |26? which, in turn, extends-through a machineside frame member 45 of the machinechassis and projects `beyond2 to receive the clutchgenerally indicated at 303. This clutch forms-the subject matter of the present invention. The clutch comprises adrum in-the-form of a clutch sleeve |29 surrounding* the endsf ofthe platen shaft |23, a clutch lever |30;v and a collar |-3-|'f', both of the latter bengjcencentr-ically.- mount-edI on the sleeve |29. The-end ofthe shaft |26- is flattened along diametricallyopposite sides thereof, as indicatedfin4 Eig. 3- at |323 and' the sleeve |29 is adapted to ftsnugly around theshaft and along the flattened edges |32. Thev collar- |3| is rotatably'mounted onthesleeve- |291E with just enough clearance topermit easy rotation of the collar about the sleeve, and clutch lever |30 fits over the sleeve |29 with the d-iameter of the-opening somewhat greater than the-- diameter of-y thesleeve. As-shown in Fig. 2; a portion of the inner circumference ofs the-leveris attened out, as shown aty |33, to provide-a wedging face adapted to engage-the periphery of the sleeve |29l The clutch collar and-lever Ill-lfv and |30, respectively; are pinnedtogethery at |34 in some suitable manner, andy at the-dia metrically-opposite side ofclutch lever- |30-iss aprojection- |35 to which ispivotally'secured ashort lever |36-,- The ratio of the distance-beitvveen` the point off attachment of the link- |36- to lever |30 and the pivot-point |34 andfthemo ment arm between the pivot point |34 and' the-y line of contactof thevvedging surface |33 againstA the sleeve |29 is approximately 6.3 tool. A slot` |'31'is made on the innerface of the clutch collar.- |3| opening towardtheclutch lever |30; a spring'.

|38 is placed in'the slot; one end |391' is. seated? at the bottom of the slot |311", and the other endrests against the lug- |40 extending frornthe clutch lever |30'into thezslotvv |31'. Awasher |4|-: is'` placed on the inside ofthe clutch and'restsf against the shoulders..` |`42 on the platenshaft- |26=, formed by-theiiattened'portions |325. The clutchl is held on the shaft by a machine screw |43 threaded inthe end of the shaft', andaiwasher- |44 is inserted between the head-ofthe screw -an'dif the clutch.

Referring to Fig. 2, an upward forceexerted onlink. |36` causes-the clutch lever f |30- 2 to pivots'y aboutr the axis-r. l 34-1and-1 wedgesthe flattened sur` face |331: tightlyu against the sleeve I 29:1 so as.: tof

Y to permit free movement of the platen On the return stroke, the link Y|36 produces counter-clockwise rotation of the lever arm |30 about its axis |34 to release the wedging .action of the flattened surface 33 against sleeve |29, thereby rotating the clutch in a counter-clockwise direction without imparting motionto the platen. Spring |38 normally holds the wedging',

face |33 against the sleeve |29 so that the clutch is at all times'in position to turn the platen in response to even the slightest downward motion' of a key. A

A lug |45 is placed on the upper surface of the clutch lever |30; and, when pressure is applied .downwardly on this lug, the flattened wedging face |33 is movedaway from the'v sleeve |29 to permit rotation of the platen in afcounter-clockwise direction. Without this releasing lug, anyV motion of the platen in a counter-clockwise direction urges the'wedging face 33 against the sleeve |29 to resist such motion. Thus, if for any reason the operator desires to move the paper in areverserdirection over the platen, pressure applied with the nger on lug |45 will release ythe* clutch in either direction.

c It may be found desirable to reduce the friction between the abutting faces of the clutch lever Y and the collar 3|, in which case spacing means may be inserted between these faces to hold them slightly apart. In this manner, any Y tendency for the clutch to drag during the return stroke may be eliminated.

. Referring to Fig. ,1, the clutch 30 is driven througha long link |46 pivoted to the chassis at one end. |41 and'pinned at |48 to the free end wardly projecting arm |49, tovwhich is secured a spring |50 fastened at its free end to the maof short link |36. The long link |46 has a downof the link in a slot |52 `and secured therein byY Y a screw |53.V The disk |5| is mounted on a core |54, and between the screw |53 and the link |46 is a washer I 55. The spring |50 urges the clutch driving links. |46 and |36 in a downward direction, so that normally they assume the position shown'in Fig. 1. pressure is exerted through the key lever 46 and universal bar |4 to raiseV the far end of the universal bar frame Ill), causing the projection ||9 of the universal lever engaging the rubber diskv |5| to rotate the long clutch link |46 about the pivot point |41 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby causing the links |46 and |36 to-V act 'as Va toggle joint to exert a force in a clockwise direction on the clutch 39. During this motion, the

wedging action between the fiat face |33 of the clutch lever |38and the sleeve |29 rotates the platen 21. YOn the return stroke of the key 25, the spring |50 pulls the links |46 and |36 back to their normal position shown in Fig. 1.

A stop |56 is placed above the rubber disk |5|,`

and is adjustable to regulate the stroke of the l toggle joint and prevent the toggle from passing dead center. By moving' the disk |5| along the link |46 in the slot |52, adjustment may be made in the action of the clutch in responseto depressing the key 25. The stop |56 is secured to the side of the chassis by a screw |51. We claim: I

1. A clutch mounted on a shaft for transmitting to the shaft a unidirectional torque comprising a drum iixed to the shaftand concentric therewith, a driving disk concentrically'mounted Upon depression of a key25,

loosely on the drum, means for attaching driving mechanism to the disk at a point adjacent to the circumferenceV of the disk, a flat, wedging face on the disk engaging Vthe periphery of the drum, the wedging face being substantially on the diametrically opposite side of thedisk from the point of attachment of the clutch driving mechanism to the driving disk, a driven disk disposed closely adjacent Vtothe driving disk and concentrically mounted on the drum with only sufficient clearance between the drum and the driven disk to .permit free rotary movement of the driven disk about the shaft, the driven disk being pivoted to the driving disk at a point on the same side of the drum as the wedging face, the driving disk Y being supportedagainst rocking movement by the driven disk substantially throughout 360 de- *grees'about the shaft, means for holding the wedging face normally against the drum, the driving disk projecting above the driven disk at a position at the end of the diameter whichis substantially parallel to the direction of the force holding the wedging facev against the drumbut on the end opposite to the direction of the force so that pressure applied on said projecting poring the periphery of the member, the wedging face being substantially on the diametricallyopposite side of the element from the' point of attachment of the clutch driving mechanism to the driving element, a driven element disposed closely adjacent to the driving element and concentrically mounted on the rotatable member with only suicient clearance between the member andthe driven element to permit free rotary movement of the driven element about the member, the driven element being pivoted to the driving element at a point on the same side of the rotatablev member as the wedging face, the driv- Y ing. element being supported against lateral rocking movement by the driven element substantially in the four quadrants surrounding the shaft,

Ymeans for holding the wedging face normally" against the rotatable member,`the ratio'of the distance between the point of attachment of the actuating mechanism and theV pivot point between the driving and driven elementsv and the moment arm between said pivot point and the Vline of contact of the wedging surface against the rotatable member being approximately 6.3 to 1.

' 3. A clutch mounted on a shaft for transmitting to the shaft a unidirectional torque comprising a drum fixed to the shaft and .concentricV therewith, a driving disk concentrically mounted loosely on thel drum, means for attaching driving mechanism to the disk at a point adjacent to the circumference of the disk, a flat, wedging face on the disk engagingV the periphery of the drum, the wedging face being substantially Ion the diametrically opposite side of the disk from the point of attachmentV of the clutchv driving mechanism t0 the driving disk, a driven disk Ydisposed closely adjacent to the driving disk ,and concentrically mounted on the drum-with only sufficient clear-,-Vv ance between the drum andthe driven'diskftc permit free rotary movementV of the drivenl disk loosely on the drum, `means for attaching driving mechanism to the disk at a point adjacent to the circumference of the disk, a at, Wedging face on the disk engaging the periphery of the drum, the wedging face being substantially on the diametrically opposite side of the disk from the point of attachment of the clutch driving mechanism to the driving disk, a driven disk disposed closely adjacent to the driving disk and concentrically mounted on the drum with only suiiicient clearance between the drum and the driven disk to permit free rotary movement of the driven disk about the shaft, the driven disk being pivoted to the driving disk at a point on the same side of the drum as the wedging face, the driving disk being supported against rocking movement by the driven disk substantially throughout 360 degrees about the shaft, means for holding resiliently the wedging face against the drum, and means on the driving disk on which a radial force is applied to overcome the force of the resilient means to move the wedging face away from the drum to permit free rotation of the shaft in either direction.

5. A clutch mounted on a shaft for transmitting to the shaft a unidirectional torque comprising a drum fixed to the shaft and concentric therewith, a driving disk concentrically mounted loosely on the drum, means for attaching driving mechanism to the disk at a point adjacent to the circumference of the disk, a ilat, wedging face on the disk engaging the periphery of the drum, the wedging face being substantially on the diametrically opposite side of the disk from the point of attachment of the clutch driving mechanism to the driving disk, a driven disk disposed closely adjacent to the driving disk and concentrically mounted on the drum with only sufficient clearance between the drum and the driven disk to permit free rotary movement of the driven disk about the shaft, the driven disk being pivoted to the driving disk at a point on the same side of the drum as the wedging face, the driving disk being supported against rocking movement by the driven disk substantially throughout 360 degrees about the shaft, the driving and driven disks having substantially the same diameter, means for holding the wedging face normally against the drum, and a protuberance on the outer margin of the driving disk extending beyond the margins of both disks and placed substantially at the end of the diameter which is substantially parallel to the direction of the force holding the wedging face against the drum but on the end opposite to the direction of the force so that pressure applied on the protuberance acts counter to the means for holding the wedgin-g face against the drum.

6. A clutch mounted on a rotatable member for transmitting to the member a unidirectional torque comprising a driving element loosely mounted on the member and at least substantially surrounding the member and having a thin wedging face adapted to engage the periphery of the rotatable member, clutch actuating mechanism attached to the driving element substantially on the diametrically opposite side thereof from the wedging face, a driven element closely mounted on the rotatable member and at least substantially surrounding said member and pivoted to the driving element at a point on the same side of the rotatable member as the wedging face, the driving element being supported against lateral rocking movement by the driven disk at least approximately in the four quadrants surrounding the shaft, and means for resiliently urging the wedging face against the rotatable member. Y

'7. A clutch mounted on a rotatable member for transmitting to the member a unidirectional torque comprising a driving element mounted on 'the member and having a wedging face adapted to engage the periphery of the rotatable member, a driven element mounted on the rotatable member and at least substantially surrounding said member, there being relative movement of the driving element laterally with respect to the rotatable member, means pivoting the driving element to the driven element and disposed on the same side of the rotatable member as the wedging face, attachment means on the driving element to which a clutch actuating mechanism may be secured, the point of attachment being such that the resultant force applied to the driving element is located on the opposite side of the wedging face from the pivoting means, the driving element at least substantially surrounding the rotatable member to be supported by the driven element against lateral rocking movement over a substantial portion of the area of the driving element, and means for urging the wedging face against the rotatable member.

CLARENCE W. JOHNSON. JOHN G. STERLING. MILTON H. WRIGHT. ROBERT T. WRIGHT. 

